Vigil held Sunday night in Ottawa for victims of Orlando shooting

Ottawans gatheredSunday night at the city'sHuman Rights Monument to pay tribute to the victims of amassshooting earlier that day at a nightclub inOrlando, Florida.

Police say 50 people died and 53 were injured when a gunman opened fire atPulse, a popular LGBTnightclub,at around 2 a.m. ET.

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"I think everyone in the community across Canada is completely shocked," saidJeremy Dias, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Ottawa.

"Mostly no one expected anything like this to ever happen. I think sometimes we take LGBTQ rights, our safety, for granted. And I think this is a stark reminder thatto be queer or trans in North America is not always easy."

According to Orlando police, a man entered the nightclub with an "assault-type rifle and a handgun" and, after exchanging shots with an officer working at the venue, opened fire on the crowd.

The suspect waskilled by policeafter the mass shooting and hostage-taking, andhas been identified asOmarMateenof Port St.Lucie, Fla.

'There were a lot of tears'

After the shooting, Dias said, hespoke on the phonewith his colleagues at LGBTQ centres in Orlando.

"They were in just as much shock as we were. There were a lot of tears, a lot of confusion. Folks in Orlando are trying to figure out what happened on their end, as well."

Sunday's candlelightvigilbegan at the Elgin Street monument at around 8 p.m.

"The targeting of any group with senseless acts of violence is an abhorrent act of cowardice," Capital Pridesaid in an email.

"We stand in solidarity against such acts of violence.We express our deepest sympathies to the victims and their loved ones. We convey our gratitude to first responders whose actions prevented more victims."

Vigils were being held in other cities across the country, including Toronto and Winnipeg.

Rainbow flags to fly

The rainbow pride flag will fly in front of the Heritage Building at Ottawa City Hall, while the U.S. flag will fly in front of Marion Dewar Plaza, Mayor Jim Watson said in a statement.

Both flags will remain aloft until sundown on June 16, Watson said.

"We are fortunate to live in a city and a country that embrace diversity, and where people are free to love who they wish to love," Watson said in his statement.

"But this act of hate and terror reminds us that we must keep making progress until this climate of acceptance is extended to all members of the LGBTQ community around the world."

A rainbow flag will also be hoisted Sunday nightat the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa,Diassaid.